(Titus 007) A Strong Shepherd
Church 101 | A Study Through the Book of Titus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 55:54
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9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
What does a shepherd do?
What does a shepherd do?
1. He leads his sheep.
1. He leads his sheep.
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
1. He leads his sheep.
1. He leads his sheep.
Elders, Bishops, Pastors, Shepherds are leaders.
2. He feeds his sheep.
2. He feeds his sheep.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
2. He feeds his sheep.
2. He feeds his sheep.
Preaching, teaching, equipping - feeding the sheep.
3. He keeps his sheep.
3. He keeps his sheep.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
3. He keeps his sheep.
3. He keeps his sheep.
Be on guard.
Be watchful.
As Paul continues his instruction to Titus to fill up what is lacking in these young churches and to appoint elders, or shepherds, he goes on to instruct him that the sheep need protection.
1. A strong shepherd holds firm to biblical truth.
1. A strong shepherd holds firm to biblical truth.
“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.”
Holding fast means to cling to with all you are worth.
(1)A. The Word is trustworthy.
(1)A. The Word is trustworthy.
A.W. Tozer said: “The thing that comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
Someone much less famous has said: “Our Theology (what we know about God) determines our attitude. Our attitude determines actions and reactions.”
The Word is trustworthy because...
It is the breath of God.
It is the breath of God.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Do you believe when you read scripture that it is the very breath of God?
That what He is telling you is true regardless of your feelings and experiences?
It is powerful.
It is powerful.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
We should understand by not the power of scripture so we cling to it.
Spurgeon said of the gospel, but really could be said of the Bible as a whole: “If I wanted to convince you of the power of a tiger I wouldn’t tell you about the tiger. I would simply open the cage.”
It is sufficient.
It is sufficient.
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Jason talked about Todd’s Awana boys. What will straighten out their wrong belief?
Not arguing with them.
Not science.
Scripture!
It is true.
It is true.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Truth in a world where truth is nowhere to be found.
Cling to the trustworthy Word!
It is alive and powerful.
It is alive and powerful.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Last week I said that I am a Leah. I am not enough.
God’s Word is!
It is powerful and active.
When God is doing things in this church, it is because of the power of His word, not my words.
So I cling desperately to His trustworthy Word!
It is effective.
It is effective.
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
You and I are not effective.
Apart from Jesus we can do NOTHING!
But God’s Word is effective so we cling to it and let it do its work.
It does not change.
It does not change.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
In a world that is changing constantly.
We hold in our hands something that has not and will not change for all eternity.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
It does not change.
It does not change.
A strong shepherd is convinced of the trustworthiness of scripture and clings to it no matter what.
A strong shepherd will not waver from the truth.
Yes… I best identify with Leah.
Yes… I often wonder why God has asked me to serve Him in the ways He has.
But don’t think I am running around defeated.
I may not understand why me, but I understand that He has equipped each of us for the ministry He puts in front of us.
So I cling desperately to the trustworthy Word and get to work!
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
“We must hold firm to the trustworthy word AS TAUGHT.”
He cannot hold firm to what he does not know.
We must train strong shepherds by teaching them well.
Strongs shepherds must a zeal for truth and continuously be learning.
Where did this teaching come from? Where did Titus hear this from?
Let’s look at Timothy’s example.
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
Being trained in the words of faith.
“Being nourished up.”
In the words of faith and good doctrine you follow.
He was nourished up by his mother, his grandmother, and Paul.
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
The doctrine and truth. The faithful words.
You heard it from me, Paul… now pass it on to other shepherds.
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
Timothy followed Paul’s
Teaching
Lifestyle
Mission in life
His faith
Patience
Love
Steadfastness
Even his persecutions and suffering.
So continue in what you have learned.
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
(1)B. The Word is handed down.
Titus was also taught and trained by Paul.
Paul knew he was leaving a strong shepherd to appoint and train more strong shepherds.
How do we know what a pastor has been taught?
(1)C. The Word is useful for every situation.
(1)C. The Word is useful for every situation.
vs 9 “So that he may be able to give instruction and also rebuke.”
Offense and defense.
Build up and guard against.
Part of clinging to the trustworthy Word is studying.
Being proficient in.
Being skilled in
Handling the trustworthy Word.
Some shepherds are good at building up.
This is popular today.
All positivity - building up.
People don’t want sin pointed out.
Some are good at guarding the flock.
Constantly calling out sin they see around them.
Constantly calling out false teaching.
Never building up.
A strong shepherd is good at both.
The danger of false teachers.
The danger of false teachers.
Its reconnaissance time.
Three things to remember when studying scripture.
Observation
Interpretation
Application
Observation comes from within the book, from other parts of the Bible, and from recorded history.
Internal evidence
External evidence
What we know about them from other scripture.
What we know about them from other scripture.
1. They look good on the outside.
1. They look good on the outside.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
1. They look good on the outside.
1. They look good on the outside.
The look like us. They look like sheep.
You will only know them by their fruit.
I hear story after story of churches hiring new pastors then figuring out it was a bad decision.
It can take time to see fruit.
2. They will be abundant.
2. They will be abundant.
11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
2. They will be abundant.
2. They will be abundant.
In abundancy comes diversity.
We can’t simply look for one kind of false teacher.
We have to be trained in truth.
The old illustration of training the secret service to find counterfeit money.
The study the real thing.
3. They will come from among us.
3. They will come from among us.
29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
3. They will come from among us.
3. They will come from among us.
They will come within THE church and the will come from within our local church.
These are not people from outside the church.
Characteristics of a false teacher.
Characteristics of a false teacher.
Who?
Who?
- Insubordinate
- Insubordinate
Rebellious against authority.
- Empty talkers
- Empty talkers
They were achieving nothing profitable with their many fairy tales about Adam, David, Moses, and others.
- Deceivers
- Deceivers
They lie and lead astray.
Paul described them well in two places in this passage.
12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Characteristics of a false teacher.
Characteristics of a false teacher.
We see what Paul warned about in Acts.
They claim to know God.
These are not outsiders.
What?
What?
- Teaching what they should not.
- Teaching what they should not.
We don’t know exactly what this is, but we know it is wrong doctrine.
Why do we spend so much time talking about and teaching doctrine?
So you can teach it, but you can also recognize false doctrine.
That is part of how I am protecting my sheep.
(Diane Ashley - listening to podcasts)
“I don’t know how people would know if they aren’t taught!”
- Upsetting entire families.
- Upsetting entire families.
Wrong doctrine is dangerous because it doesn’t just cause philosophical problems.
Our Theology (doctrine) determines our attitude. Our attitude determines our actions and reactions.
Good doctrine leads to good actions and reactions.
Bad doctrine leads to bad actions and reactions.
Therefore wrong doctrine is terribly dangerous.
This wrong teaching only did this bring turmoil to families.
Neighbors notice when families are in upheaval.
I’m sure they noticed a change for the good at one point.
Now the gospel could be questioned by outsiders.
It brought added unrest to the church.
Remember, homes were where the church met.
This would have disrupted regular meeting places as well.
- Devoting themselves to Jewish myths.
- Devoting themselves to Jewish myths.
Legalism.
The gospel PLUS...
Following made up teaching from men like Abraham, Moses, David, and others.
Why?
Why?
- For shameful gain
- For shameful gain
A false teacher isn’t someone who is mistaken about a certain doctrine.
That is part of learning and growing.
False teachers know what they are doing.
They know they are selling lies to increase their wealth.
We can already see the importance of what Titus was doing and the importance of the disciple-making culture in our church.
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
“there are MANY.” (vs 10)
The danger level is high!
Think for a minute about how difficult Titus’ job would have been.
Also think about how important it was to have good pastors in every town!
Jesus warned of this in Matthew.
Peter understood attacks from the enemy would be various and often.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
There are many who are false teachers.
We must be sober-minded and watchful.
There are also many who are eager to hear false teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
They will have ears that want to hear what makes them feel good.
They will pile one false teacher on top of another.
An indiscriminate mass of false teachers.
Itching ears enjoy variety.
It gives them the ability to be pleased in the moment.
SO… the number of false teachers and those following them should not surprise us.
RATHER… we should be ready!
We need to check our own hearts and live in the community of the church God has given us.
This could happen to any of us...
We could be led astray.
Even Solomon a great ruler and the wisest man to walk the earth knew of this danger when he wrote things like:
“Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4)
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov 17:17)
“In multitude of counselors there is safety” (Prov 11:14, 24:6)
1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
This is one of the great benefits of discipleship.
This adds a huge responsibility to myself as your shepherd.
People become like their leader.
Sheep become like their shepherd.
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
The number of false teachers and eager listeners.
This is benefit of having two pastors.
An added layer of accountability.
This is why Paul tells shepherds to “take heed to themselves” in Acts 20.
If the sheep become like the shepherd, that can be used to our advantage!
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
“So that he may be able to give sound instruction.”
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
Teaching for teaching sake is useless.
Teaching for knowledge accomplishes nothing.
We need teaching that brings godly living.
Teachers, disciplers, men in the leadership class.
We need teaching with application!
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
Following the pattern of sound words brings depth to our spiritual lives.
It allows others to see the good fruit in you!
This sound instruction that changes our lives helps us determine truth from falsehood.
How do you know if something is wrong?
If a false teacher comes from within and looks like a sheep, how do you know if they are a false teacher?
By knowing and living truth.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
2. A strong shepherd teaches and applies biblical truth.
We must be quick to hear.
Eager to hear.
We could even say DESPERATE to hear good biblical truth taught.
What is your level of desperation to hear the Word?
What is your level of hunger for good doctrine.
Think about how you order your life?
You may give an answer, but your calendar gives the correct answer.
We make time for what is important to us.
Teaching sound doctrine is also fighting against false doctrine.
You could see it as preventative maintenance.
The better grounded you are, the less we need to worry about false teaching pulling people away.
However, I can’t do my job as a shepherd if you aren’t gathered with the sheep.
3. A strong shepherd rebukes false teachers.
3. A strong shepherd rebukes false teachers.
“to rebuke those who contradict it.”
This is to rebuke sharply.
Paul has no tolerance for false teachers.
Paul is not worried about sensitivity.
False teaching is to be stopped and corrected.
The stakes are too high to be worried about feelings.
But don’t miss what Paul is saying here. (two things)
First - False teachers and lost people living in their sin are two different things.
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
3. A strong shepherd rebukes false teachers.
3. A strong shepherd rebukes false teachers.
A false teacher professes to know God but denies him with their works.
This is not someone who completely denies Christ.
This is someone who claims to be a Cristian yet they are destroying the church from the inside.
Unlike the our lost neighbors, Paul says in 1 Cor. that we shouldn’t even sit and eat with them.
Be careful who you are rebuking.
Be careful who you refuse to eat with.
Second - The ultimate goal is always redemption or restoration.
It could be redemption or it could be restoration.
Their salvation is questionable.
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
3. A strong shepherd rebukes false teachers.
3. A strong shepherd rebukes false teachers.
God is not merely interested in rebuking, but using the ones we would not expect. God’s goal is redemption.
Redemption or restoration!
This seems to fit in with Matt 18.
Jesus says confront them. If they don’t repent, treat them as a lost person.
4. A strong shepherd silences false teachers.
4. A strong shepherd silences false teachers.
To stop the mouth by bridle, or muzzle, or gag.
By any means necessary.
Though we would treat someone who has been disciplined out of the church as lost, in this case we would still silence them.
This interesting because silencing them requires them to submit to leadership, but they are characterized as rebellious.
The goal is redemptive in nature but protecting the other sheep comes first.
“The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both; for he who is deeply skilled in it will be able both to govern those who are teachable, and to refute the enemies of the truth.” - John Calvin
A Strong Shepherd (Titus 1:9-16)
A Strong Shepherd (Titus 1:9-16)
Paul is telling Titus that false teaching should be guarded against at all costs.
Rebuke them.
Silence them.
Teach against them.
Guard the pulpit.
Guard Sunday School classes and smaller groups.
One of the reasons why we want you to follow the pathway.
Don’t go off on your own.
We don’t know what is being taught.
It might not be you, but the material.
False teaching damages people.
False teaching comes from within the church.
Let your shepherds guard you!
Questions for the week:
Do I claim to know God intimately, but do not believe and live sound doctrine?
Am I flying solo or living purposefully and continually in the community of my church?
What is my level of hunger for good doctrine? Do the practices of my life reflect that answer?